Psalms 2 · Verse 9

Psalms 2:9

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Psalms 2:9, King James Version

Psalms 2:9 in other translations

BSB	You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
WEB	You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
ASV	Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
YLT	Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.'
DARBY	Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter's vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces.
BBE	They will be ruled by you with a rod of iron; they will be broken like a potter's vessel.
Webster	Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

What does Psalms 2:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. His enemies shall be subject to His terrible power (Job 4:9; 2Th 2:8), as His people to His grace (Psa 110:2, 3). rod of iron--denotes severity (Re 2:27). a potter's vessel--when shivered cannot be mended, which will describe utter destruction.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - This may refer to the Jewish nation, whose final rejection of the Gospel was foreseen, and in whose place the Gentiles or heathen were brought into the Church of Christ. They were dispossessed of their land, their city was razed to its foundations, their temple was burnt with fire, and upwards of a million of themselves were slaughtered by the Romans! So heavily did the iron rod of God's judgments fall upon them for their obstinate unbelief.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 2:7-9

The kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon an eternal decree of God the Father. This our Lord Jesus often referred to, as what he governed himself by. God hath said unto him, Thou art my Son, and it becomes each of us to say to him, Thou art my Lord, my Sovereign'. The Son, in asking the heathen for his inheritance, desires their happiness in him; so that he pleads for them, ever lives to do so, and is able to save…

Read the full comment on Psalms 2:7-9 →

Psalms 2:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תְּ֭רֹעֵםTe.ro.'emyou will break themH7489

בְּשֵׁ֣בֶטbe.She.vetwith a rod ofH7626

בַּרְזֶ֑לbar.ZelironH1270

כִּכְלִ֖יkikh.Lilike a vessel ofH3627

יוֹצֵ֣רyo.Tzera potterH3335

תְּנַפְּצֵֽם\׃te.na.pe.Tzemyou will smash themH5310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 2:9

Revelation 2:26-27
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 12:5
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Revelation 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Psalms 89:23
And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
Isaiah 30:14
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
Psalms 110:5-6
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
Psalms 21:8-9
Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
Jeremiah 19:11
And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.
Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Matthew 21:44
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Isaiah 60:12
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

21:8,9; 89:23; 110:5,6; Isa 30:14; 60:12; Jer 19:11; Da 2:44
Mt 21:44; Re 2:26,27; 12:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 2:8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalms 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psalms 2:10
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Read all of Psalms 2

Psalms 2:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Quebrantarlos has con vara de hierro: como vaso de alfarero los desmenuzarás.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Tu les briseras avec un sceptre de fer; comme un vase de potier tu les mettras en pièces.
German Elberfelder 1871	Mit eisernem Scepter wirst du sie zerschmettern, wie ein Töpfergefäß sie zerschmeißen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Reges eos in virga ferrea, et tamquam vas figuli confringes eos.